Marshalltown Company

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Marshalltown Company is an American manufacturer of construction tools based in Marshalltown, Iowa, making tools for such trades as masonry, concrete, drywall, plastering, flooring, exterior insulation, and other miscellaneous tools. Marshalltown Company has been in business for over 100 years and is one of the top producers of construction tools in the world.[citation needed] The Marshalltown Company is the manufacturer of the Marshalltown trowel, a favoured tool of American archaeologists.

[edit] Company history

The origins of Marshalltown Company can be traced back to Dave Lennox, the American inventor and entrepreneur. While working in his machine shop in Marshalltown, Iowa, Mr. Lennox received a visit from a local stone mason concerning making a better trowel for the masons working on the Marshall County courthouse during 1893.

According to the mason’s criteria, Mr. Lennox forged the trowels and delivered them to the workers. After proving a success, the masons around the area requested more to be made, but Mr. Lennox having other interests decided to forgo the opportunity, and give his friend J. C. Williams the business of making the trowels. During this period, business for J. C. was initially steady, and with the help of his brother, E. L. Williams, things began to pick up. Before long E. L. joined J. C. and they began producing the trowels together.

Twelve years later the brothers business began to boom, and they decided to move the company to South 8th avenue in Marshalltown Iowa, the site where the current plant is today. During this time the brothers acquired the services of master salesman and promoter Al Higgin. With Mr. Higgin’s help the Marshalltown trowels became renowned across the country.

[edit] Business today

Today Marshalltown Company operates in Iowa and Arkansas with most production processes occurring in Fayetteville. The Iowa location does serve some production processes, but is mostly used for administrative purposes. The company has also expanded it’s product lines since first introducing it’s trowels in 1893. New lines include Q.LT. (tools facilitated for the everyday handyman), Nu-Pride (tools for the professional at a value price), and the original Marshalltown premium tools.

In addition to expanding product lines, Marshalltown Company has also went global. Today the tools are shipped and used in such countries as Canada, Mexico, Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Italy, the Netherlands, and Saudi Arabia. Marshalltown reports that from its outstanding export sales the company has received the Presidential E-Star Award twice, in lieu of recognizing companies that sell 15% of sales abroad.

[edit] References